LOS ANGELES (AP) — Three paintings of a ruthless public television legend. bob ross It sold for more than $600,000 at auction Tuesday. These paintings were the first of 30 works by Ross sold to support public television stations hit by federal budget cuts.
The live auction at Bonham’s in Los Angeles featured a serene snowy landscape called “Winter Peace,” which Ross painted entirely during a 1993 episode. “The fun of drawing” It was sold to a telephone bidder for $318,000.
“If you have a good cause, you can get the painting,” auctioneer Aaron Bastian said during bidding. He evoked a common sentiment during Ross’s brief respite after his death in 1995. “Bob will remind you that this is your world and you can do whatever you want.”
Another painting from the 1993 episode, a lush landscape called “Valley House,” sold for $229,100. The third, “Cliffside,” sold for $114,800.
The final price includes an auction house fee that is added to the final bid amount, known as the buyer’s premium. The identity of the buyer was not immediately disclosed.
Bids for all three paintings significantly exceeded their pre-auction estimates, with the highest bids reaching approximately $50,000.
Three more paintings by Ross will be auctioned on January 27th at Bonhams in Marlborough, Massachusetts, with other works to be auctioned later in New York and London.
All profits are pledged to stations using content from distributor American Public Television.
Ross, a public television star in the 1980s and ’90s, was known for his domed hair and warm demeanor.
The special sale is aimed at supporting stations in need of license fees to air popular shows such as “America’s Test Kitchen,” “Julia Child’s French Chef Classics” and “This Old House,” along with Ross’ show. Smaller regional stations are particularly challenged.
Bob Ross President Joan Kowalski said in a statement that these stations “have been a gateway for generations of viewers to discover not only Bob’s gentle teachings but also the transformative power of art.”
As requested by the Trump administration, Congress eliminated $1.1 billion earmarked for public broadcasting, leaving about $1.1 billion remaining. 330 PBS stations and 246 NPR stations.
Ross died at the age of 52 due to complications from cancer, after 11 years working on the how-to treatment show The Joy of Painting. The former Air Force drill sergeant was something of a trailblazer, known for his calm, calming demeanor and encouraging words.
Ross often talked on the air about drawing happy little clouds and trees, and about drawing no mistakes, only “happy accidents.”
His show has only grown in popularity in the decades since his death, and the popularity of his shows soared during the coronavirus pandemic lockdown.
